A small mistake costs the # 3 Corvette a possible victory at Road America
Antonio Garcia had a fueling advantage and the lead after taking four tires and fuel on the team’s 2nd and final pit stop with 52 minutes to go in the 240-minute race.
Unknowingly he exited too soon, breaking an IMSA rule not often heard about requiring the minimum elapsed time in a pit stop. Per this video it is not so easy to understand: https://youtu.be/c8t0fPX_iWA
No smiles here as officials required Garcia to make a drive-through, thereby surrendering the lead with 24 minutes left and finish 3rd.
Ross Gunn and Alex Ribiero won for the 2nd straight time in their # 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3. In their words, “we were trailing for most of the race but they made a small mistake and we got a lucky win.”
This cutting edge team deserves a lot of credit for adapting to the resurfaced track, doing simulations, having a fast car and the like.
The # 14 Lexus team finished 2nd and holds a commanding lead in GTD PRO points with two races remaining before the free-for-all Petite Le Mans 10-hour enduro finale at Road Atlanta on Oct 11-14.
Fans rolled in early for a 10:00 AM start imposed by NBC TV to squeeze in IMSA at Road America before airing NASCAR at MIS and Indy cars at Nashville.
The popular Corvette Racing Team and fans pay tribute to the late, great Reeves Callaway.
Road America was a fitting place to celebrate winning the Le Mans centennial race this past June.
And to showcase the Z06 GT3R being built for customers to race next year in IMSA, the World Endurance Championship and other series. The car reportedly had a track test session the following day.
VIR Aug 25-27 is next.
Photo journal credit to Kevin Bowman
For Corvette history buffs, in Sept 1964 Jim Hall/Hap Sharp/Roger Penske piloted 1963 Grand Sport Corvette chassis 005 (re-numbered # 67) to 3rd place in the USRRC 500 at Road America, completing 123 laps. The trio swapped rides in their # 68 Chaparral 2A prototype that only finished 27th in a field of 59 cars, completing just 83 laps.
